Universal curb valve cradle with improved alignment retention
OwnerJames R. Cotugnoinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A curb valve cradle for maintaining operable access to the operating nut of a curb valve with a valve key wrench tool. The cradle has a pair of spaced-apart upstanding arms connected together by a base. Each arm has multiple stop ridges arranged in a vertical series along opposite interfacing surfaces of the arms. A retaining ring with a central opening is matingly slidable between and along the upstanding arms. The retaining ring has a peripheral latch flange protruding radially outward and engageable with the stop ridges. The latch flange and stop ridges are configured to permit the ring to be slid downward between the upstanding arms from the top free ends of the arms and pass the stop ridges and to resist or prevent the ring from being slid upward past the stop ridges.
Claims10
A curb valve cradle for maintaining operable access to the operating nut of a curb valve with a valve key wrench tool, the cradle, in an operable orientation, comprising:
- (a) a pair of spaced-apart upstanding arms each having a free top end and connected together by a base, each arm having multiple stop ridges arranged in a vertical series along opposite interfacing surfaces of the arms, the stop ridges being transverse to the upstanding arms;
- and
- (b) a retaining ring having a central opening and matingly slidable between and along the upstanding arms, the retaining ring having a peripheral latch flange protruding radially outward and engageable with the stop ridges, the latch flange and stop ridges being configured to permit the ring to be slid downward between the upstanding arms from their free ends and pass stop ridges and to resist or prevent the ring from being slid upward past stop ridges.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.